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A new study describes a previously unrecognised species of water bear found among fallen leaves in Svalbard.
Norwegian marine researchers have found a surprisingly large number of young cod in the glacial fjords of Svalbard. They are now investigating whether Atlantic cod are spreading further north as the Arctic warms.
The waters around Svalbard were exceptionally warm this summer. Measurements show that surface temperatures in July were, in some places, more than three degrees above the long-term average
The Norwegian authorities detained the Russian Professor Molchanov in Barentsburg on 2 September under a court order. The measure stems from a compensation claim by Ukrainian energy group Naftogaz against Russia.
Several Russian fishing vessels have repeatedly crossed the routes of the undersea cables between the Norwegian mainland and Svalbard in recent days.
The retreat of the glaciers is changing the map of Spitsbergen. A new island has emerged on the south-east coast of Nordaustlandet.
The world’s northernmost literature festival has begun in Svalbard, bringing six days of literature, film and music to Longyearbyen for its tenth anniversary.
A mystery from the ice dating back to 1943. A mysterious death in Berlin in 2026. And a vulnerability in global IT security that could lead the world to the brink of disaster.
The Russian Geographical Society says it plans to document hundreds of objects linked to Russian history on Svalbard for a new Arctic heritage database and atlas.
Things could have turned out very differently indeed. But vanity and a thirst for recognition turned offended heroes into tragic losers, and what should have been a glorious triumph in the race to the North Pole became the greatest disaster in the history of the Arctic.
This makes it the third confirmed case of bird flu in a polar bear worldwide, but evidence suggests exposure on Svalbard is far more widespread.
When people think of Svalbard, they usually picture polar bears, reindeer, arctic foxes and barren tundra landscapes. Hardly anyone would suspect that aphids also belong among the inhabitants of the far north.
The 6th National Arctic Scientific Research Expedition (TASE-VI) has successfully completed its work in the Far North.
Seventeen sealers sought refuge in a well-stocked Arctic house, only to die from an invisible danger hidden in their own supplies.
Dreams often begin in the most unexpected places. Arleen González Pérez's dream started in Mexico City - a place where icy water simply does not exist. Yet that never stopped her from pursuing her passion for ice swimming.
An unusually intense summer of polar bear visits has put one of Svalbard’s key eider duck breeding areas under heavy pressure.
Decades after its abandonment, the Soviet mining settlement of Pyramiden remains suspended between Arctic wilderness, preserved history and the slow return of nature.
German physicist Hauke Trinks combined unconventional origin-of-life research with years of Arctic overwintering expeditions alongside Marie Tièche.
Four Swiss adventurers will begin the Arctic Row 2026 expedition at midnight between 3 and 4 July 2026, departing from Svalbard. Their goal is to complete a historic human-powered row of more than 3,000 kilometres to the edge of the Arctic sea ice and then continue all the way to mainland Scotland.
For many visitors to Svalbard, the reindeer is among the first Arctic animals they encounter. Often seen grazing near Longyearbyen or moving slowly across the tundra beneath glaciers, these compact animals appear perfectly adapted to life in one of the world’s most remote environments.
New research shows that bowhead whales in the Arctic can imitate and incorporate sounds from other species into their songs.
An international team of researchers has published a new report in the journal Ecological Monographs on the effects of climate change on the genetics and evolution of polar bears.
After an interruption of almost three decades, direct passenger voyages between the Russian port city of Murmansk and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard have resumed.
In 1963, Ingrid Pedersen crossed the North Pole in a small aircraft, becoming the first woman to do so on a flight from Alaska to Norway.
A recent scientific study focuses on a key element of the global climate system: the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
Changing moisture conditions in the Arctic may influence parasite exposure in Svalbard reindeer by affecting where infective larvae are found.
Scientists in Svalbard have shown that seawater can reveal which animals live in the Arctic, offering a new way to track how climate change is reshaping polar ecosystems.
Warming temperatures in the Arctic may be releasing long-stored pollutants, with Svalbard reindeer showing rising levels of persistent chemicals.
A polar bear found dead on Svalbard has tested positive for H5N5 avian influenza, the first confirmed case of bird flu in a polar bear in Europe.
Exceptionally warm temperatures and heavy rain disrupted research, tourism and winter activities across Svalbard during one of the Arctic archipelago’s warmest Aprils on record.
A remarkable achievement unfolded in the Arctic waters of Svalbard this week as 15-year-old British ice swimmer Frankie Jackson completed a 1-kilometer polar swim at Bore Glacier, Svalbard, in temperatures well below freezing.
The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard.
Early thawing in Svalbard is creating unexpected logistical challenges for the return of ten-year-old Mina Floriana Read from the northern part of the archipelago.
From 2027, guides outside Svalbard’s settlements must hold official approval under a new certification system.
A ten-year-old skier is attempting to cross Svalbard, prioritizing shared experience and time in the Arctic over speed or records.
The Svalbard Treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access and peaceful use of the Arctic archipelago for all signatory nations.
Cryopegs are pockets of salty liquid water in permafrost where microbes survive, revealing life’s resilience and hints of life beyond Earth.
On foot, by sled, or by ship, many methods had already been tried to reach the North Pole.
Sveagruva, a historic mining settlement, is now a research base giving UNIS scientists unprecedented access to study eastern Svalbard’s glaciers, geology, and ecosystems.
A significant rise in temperatures in the Barents Sea is endangering the spawning grounds and food supply of key fish species.
Trappers Trail 2026 brought sled dogs and mushers together for a weekend of racing, community spirit, and Arctic adventure on Svalbard.
A polar bear was shot in Agardhbukta, Svalbard, on 21 March, and the incident is currently under police investigation.
On March 8th, the community in Longyearbyen gathered at the Svalbard Museum to celebrate International Women’s Day, with speeches, a discussion panel, and music from a local choir.
On March 8th, the people of Longyearbyen came together to celebrate the annual return of the sun, a cherished moment after the long polar night.
The Svalbard rock ptarmigan is a master of camouflage in the Arctic, adapting its plumage to blend seamlessly with the snowy landscapes.
Last Friday, on International Polar Bear Day, Trade Secret had its Arctic premiere in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Caribou use collective experience to flexibly adapt their migrations to changing winter conditions.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault carried out its first deposit event of 2026 this week.
Climate change is hitting the Arctic particularly hard. Around the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, the annually ice-free period in the Barents Sea has lengthened dramatically since the 1980s.
While large parts of Scandinavia, northwestern Russia, and Siberia experienced their coldest January in many years, the High North revealed a very different side.
An extraordinary heat event in 2003 profoundly and permanently changed the marine ecosystem off Greenland.
It is not for lack of trying. But to this day scientists know of no reliable way to tell if a polar bear is pregnant.
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